Argyranthemum frutescens plant named ‘Argybidaro’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Argyranthemum frutescens  plant named ‘Argybidaro’ characterized by its rather vigorous round plant habit with dark green foliage, and its early, rich and long flowering with pink flowers with a contasting dark red center and a semi double flowering habit.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Argyranthemum frutescens.

Varietal denomination: ‘Argybidaro’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Marguerite Daisy plant, botanically known as Argyranthemum frutescens and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Argybidaro’.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted in Enkhuizen, Netherlands.

The new Argyranthemum originates from an open pollination conducted in Enkhuizen, Netherlands in 2004 of a proprietary selection of Argyranthemum frutescens identified as code number ‘D0260-1,’ not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with pollen of unknown Argyranthemum frutescens plants as the male, or pollen, parent.

The cultivar ‘Argybidaro’ was discovered and selected as a single plant within the progeny of the stated open pollination in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, in August 2005. Asexual reproduction of the new Argyranthemum by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, Netherlands since August 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Argyranthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

A Plant Breeder's Right for this cultivar was applied for in the European Union in December 2008. ‘Argybidaro’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to the filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Argyranthemum has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following characteristics have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Argybidaro’ and distinguish to new Argyranthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Vigorous round plant habit.     -   2. Early flowering habit.     -   3. Freely flowering habit with numerous inflorescences per         plant.     -   4. Dark green foliage.     -   5. Semi double flowers.     -   6. Pink flowers with a contrasting dark red center.

Plants of the new Argyranthemum differ from plants of the female parent in the following characteristics:

‘Argybidaro’ has a dark red center while the female parent has a yellow center in the flower.

‘Argybidaro’ has a strongly fading flower color while the female parent is rather stable in its pink color.

‘Argybidaro’ has very long peduncles while the female parent has medium length peduncles.

Difference of plants of the new Argyranthemum from plants of the male parent is unknown, as the male parent is unknown.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW CULTIVAR ‘ARGYBIDARO’ AND A SIMILAR CULTIVAR ‘Argyros (U.S. Plant ‘ARGYBIDARO’ Pat. No. 20,015) Plant vigor Strong Medium Branching Rather good Very good Flower color Pink with dark center Pink with yellow center

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying color photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Argyranthemum.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The aforementioned photographs, following detailed observations and averaged measurements describe plants of this new Marguerite Daisy plant. The data were collected from plants from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, Netherlands. The plant history was taken on plants of 13 weeks old, grown in the greenhouse in Enkhuizen, Netherlands, with day temperatures ranging from 20 to 35° C., and night temperatures ranging from 10 to 20° C.

Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   The plant:     -   -   Classification.—Botanical: Argyranthemum frutescens. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Argyranthemum             frutescens identified as number ‘D-0260-1’ (not patented).         -   Male parent.—Unidentified plant of Argyranthemum frutescens. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type of cuttings.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to intiate roots.—7-10 days at air temperature of 21°             C.         -   Time to develop roots.—7-14 days at air temperature of 18°             C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous, relatively fine, white in color.         -   Rooting description.—Freely branching, dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Round shape.         -   Plant height.—About 17 cm.         -   Vigor.—Very vigorous.         -   Spreading area.—About 25 cm.         -   Strength.—Very strong.         -   Branching character.—Rather freely branching, plants do not             require pinching.         -   Crop time.—About 9 weeks are required to produce a finished             flowering plant in a 10.5 cm container from a well developed             cutting. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—14-18 cm.         -   Diameter.—3-4 mm.         -   Shape.—Round, slightly grooved.         -   Anthocyanin pigmentation.—Present.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Length of internode.—4-5 cm.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Color.—147D with anthocyanin spots N187A. -   The foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Shape of leaf.—Bipinnatisect.         -   Leaf apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Leaf base.—Attenuate, clasping.         -   Margin.—Deeply dissected, laciniate.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Length.—3-6 cm.         -   Width.—2-4 cm.         -   Depth of incision.—Laciniate.         -   Color.—Upper side: 137B. Lower side: 138A.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.5-2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 138A.         -   Venation.—Shape: Pinnate. Color: 138B. -   The inflorescence:     -   -   Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescences with ligulate ray             florets and well developed, trumpet shaped disc florets.             Disc and ray florets develop acropetally on a capitulum.             Inflorescences held upright and outwardly on terminal and             axillary peduncles. Inflorescences positioned perpendicular             to the peduncles. Inflorescences persistent.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plants flower             continuously from spring to early fall. Inflorescence             longevity: 10 days. Quantity of inflorescences: Freely             flowering, about 20 open inflorescences and 30 inflorescence             buds per plant. -   The flower bud:     -   -   Peduncle.—Length: 10-12 cm. Diameter: 2 mm. Strength:             Strong. Aspect: Upright to slightly outward. Texture:             Smooth, glabrous. Color: 137C.         -   Inflorescence bud.—Height: 6 mm. Diameter: 8 mm, just before             moment of opening of flower. Shape: Ovoid. Color: 137C near             peduncle to 70A near top. -   The inflorescence:     -   -   Size.—Diameter: 4 cm. Depth: About 10 mm.         -   Disc diameter.—About 13 mm.         -   Receptacle.—Height: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 10 mm.         -   Involucre.—Number of bracts: 20-25 bracts, organized in             whorls. Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Broad. Base: Truncate.             Texture: Smooth glabrous. Margin: Entire. Length: 2-3 mm.             Width: 1 mm. Color upper and lower side: 148C, 137C towards             peduncle.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—About 14, one whorl.         -   Shape.—Ligulate.         -   Apex.—Tridentate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Color upper surface.—70A in young flower, fading to 70D in             old flower.         -   Color lower surface.—70A in young flower, fading to 70B in             old flower.         -   Length.—About 1.3 cm.         -   Width.—0.4 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; longitudinally ridged. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Arrangement.—Massed at the center of the inflorescence.         -   Shape.—Trumpet shaped, elongated, five-pointed.         -   Color.—Immature: 58A. Mature: N155B with yellow tips 17A.         -   Diameter.—Apex: 4 mm. Base: <1 mm.         -   Length.—0.6 cm.         -   Quantity per inflorescence.—Approximately 150.         -   Androecium.—Presence: Absent on ray florets; present on disk             florets. Stamen quantity per floret: 5. Anther length: About             1 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color: 14A. Pollen color:             14A. Amount of pollen: Rather abundant.         -   Gynoecium.—Presence: Present on ray and disc florets. Number             of pistils per floret: 1. Pistil length: Approximately 3 mm.             Style color: Lighter than 149D. Style length: Approximately             1 mm. Stigma color: 14A. Stigma shape: Bilobed. Ovary color:             157D. -   Seed and fruit development: Seed and fruit development has not been     observed. -   Disease resistance: No disease/pest resistance has been observed to     date. -   Temperature/weather tolerance: Plants of the new Argyanthemum have     been observed to be tolerant to rain, wind and to temperatures from     0° C. to 36° C. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Argyranthemum frutescens plant, named ‘Argybidaro,’ as substantially illustrated and described herein. 